Back frame module

ABSTRACT

A back frame module includes a base plate, two locking plate members, a cable organizing plate, and a stowage plate. The base plate is adapted to be provided on a rear face of a display. The locking plate members, the cable organizing plate, and the stowage plate are selectively connected to the base plate. The locking plate members are adapted for mounting of a computer device therebetween. The cable organizing plate is adapted to stow a cable of the display or of the computer device. The stowage plate is adapted to stow an adapter of the display or other accessories. The locking plate members, the cable organizing plate, and the stowage plate can be selectively substituted by a support plate. The back frame module thus has various states of use to satisfy different user requirements.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority of Taiwanese Application No. 097120559,filed on Jun. 3, 2008.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a back frame module, more particularly to aback frame module for use in a display.

2. Description of the Related Art

Currently, some display devices can be used in a suspended state, andthey are generally suspended from a wall or a ceiling through asuspending frame. A rear face of the display device and the suspendingframe are both provided with VESA mounting holes, so that the mountingholes thereof are of the same industry standard.

Reference is made to FIGS. 1 and 2. FIG. 2 shows a commerciallyavailable mounting frame 11 (Sonnet MacCuff™ mini). The mounting frame11 has a generally box-shaped structure, and is disposed to hold andsecure a computer device 12 (e.g., a Mac® Mini PC) therein. The mountingframe 11 is provided with mounting holes 111 corresponding to VESAmounting holes provided in a rear face of a display 13 for locking tothe rear face of the display 13. Thus, the computer device 12 can bepositioned on the rear face of the display 13 to save desk space.

However, the mounting frame 11 is disadvantageous in that, since it hasa fixed structure, it can accommodate only a single size of the computerdevice 12. The applicability of the mounting frame 11 is therefore low.

In addition, when the computer device 12 is secured to the rear face ofthe display 13, cables of the computer device 12 and the display 13inevitably will be in a clutter. Moreover, since the mounting frame 11does not have any cable organizing feature, in order that the overallappearance will not be adversely affected, the user may need to add acable organizing mechanism, which may be an additional burden on thepart of the user.

Furthermore, if the mounting frame 11 is locked to the rear face of thedisplay 13, the VESA mounting holes in the rear face of the display 13are used for connection with the mounting frame 11, so that the display13 has no more VESA holes available for connection with matching VESAmounting holes in a suspending frame, and hence cannot be suspended.Accordingly, one can only choose to suspend the display 13 or secure thecomputer device 12 to the rear face of the display 13 using the mountingframe 11.

Given the above, the mounting frame 11 is inadequate in functionalityand is limited in use.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a back framemodule. The back frame module is for mounting to a rear face of adisplay, and has modularized components with various functions, whichcan be selectively used depending on actual needs of the user.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a back framemodule which enables a computer device (such as a mini PC) to be mountedto a rear face of a display while permitting mounting of the display ina suspended fashion.

Accordingly, the back frame module of this invention includes a baseplate, a support plate and two first locking plates. The support platehas a first plate portion and a second plate portion extending forwardlyfrom the first plate portion. The second plate portion is locked to thebase plate. The two first locking plates are provided on the first plateportion and are spaced apart from each other for mounting of a computerdevice between the two first locking plates.

According to a preferred embodiment of this invention, the support platefurther has a cable organizing plate portion connected to the firstplate portion. The cable organizing plate portion is indented to form aplurality of cable organizing slots for stowing a cable of a display orof the computer device.

According to a preferred embodiment of this invention, the support platefurther has a first partition and a second partition that extendrearwardly from the first plate portion and that are spaced apart withone on top of the other. The first and second partitions define astowage groove therebetween for stowing an adapter of the display orother accessories.

According to a preferred embodiment of this invention, the secondpartition has two lateral edges that are respectively indented to formcable organizing slots, respectively, for winding of a cable of thedisplay or of the computer device around the two cable organizing slots.

According to a preferred embodiment of this invention, the two firstlocking plates extend rearwardly from the first plate portion of thesupport plate, and are connected integrally to the first plate portion.

According to a preferred embodiment of this invention, the base platehas at least one set of VESA standard mounting holes or any two sets ofVESA 75, VESA 100 and VESA standard mounting holes.

The back frame module of this invention includes a base plate and twolocking plate members. Each of the locking plate members has a firstlocking plate. The two locking plate members are disposed to beconnected to the base plate such that the first locking plates arespaced apart from each other for mounting of the computer device betweenthe first locking plates.

According to a preferred embodiment of this invention, the two lockingplate members are locked to the base plate such that a distance betweenthe first locking plates thereof is adjustable.

According to a preferred embodiment of this invention, the back framemodule further includes a cable organizing plate disposed to beconnected to the base plate for stowing a cable of the display or of thecomputer device. The cable organizing plate includes a first plateportion and a plurality of stop elements. Each of the stop elements isgenerally L-shaped, and has one end connected to the first plate portionof the cable organizing plate, and another end spaced apart from thefirst plate portion of the cable organizing plate so as to define acable organizing groove with the first plate portion of the cableorganizing plate.

According to a preferred embodiment of this invention, the back framemodule further includes a stowage plate for coupling to the base plateand located below the first locking plates. The stowage plate includes afirst plate portion that has a bent and substantially U-shaped structurewhich defines a stowage groove for stowing an adapter of the display.The first plate portion of the stowage plate further has twospaced-apart plate sections. One of the plate sections is secured to thebase plate and the other of the plate sections is spaced apart from thebase plate to define the stowage groove. The stowage plate furtherincludes an extension plate portion extending rearwardly from the otherof the plate sections which is spaced apart from the base plate. Theextension plate portion has two ends that are respectively indented toform cable organizing slots, respectively, for winding of a cable of thedisplay or of the computer device around the cable organizing slots inthe ends of the extension plate portion.

In the back frame module according to this invention, combinations ofcomponents of the back frame module may be varied depending on userrequirements so as to provide different functions. For example, the baseplate may be used in conjunction with the cable organizing plate, orwith the stowage plate, or with the support plate.

Through the modularized design of the back frame module of thisinvention, different sizes of computer devices may be mounted thereto.In addition, the components of the back frame module may be assembledselectively depending on user requirements to form different functionalcombinations, so that the user is provided with a wider range offunctionalities and does not need to buy additional accessories.Furthermore, the back frame module allows the user to secure thecomputer device to the rear face of the display to save space whilepermitting the display to be secured to a suspending frame forsuspension purposes, thereby enhancing user convenience.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other features and advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent in the following detailed description of the preferredembodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:

FIG. 1 is an elevational plan view to illustrate a commerciallyavailable Sonnet MacCuff™ mini mounting frame assembled to a rear faceof a display;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the Sonnet MacCuff™ mini mounting frame;

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the first preferred embodimentof a back frame module according to the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the first preferred embodiment whenassembled to a rear face of a display;

FIG. 5 is a side view of the first preferred embodiment when assembledto the rear face of the display;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a cable organizing plate to beselectively included in the first preferred embodiment;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the first preferred embodiment includingthe cable organizing plate;

FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view of the second preferredembodiment of a back frame module according to the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the second preferred embodiment whenassembled to a rear face of a display;

FIG. 10 is a side view of the second preferred embodiment when assembledto the rear face of the display;

FIG. 11 is an exploded perspective view of the second preferredembodiment when used in a suspending type display;

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the second preferred embodiment whenassembled to the suspending type display;

FIG. 13 is a side view of the second preferred embodiment when assembledto the suspending type display; and

FIG. 14 is an exploded perspective view of the third preferredembodiment of a back frame module according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Before the present invention is described in greater detail, it shouldbe noted that like elements are denoted by the same reference numeralsthroughout the disclosure.

Referring to FIGS. 3 to 5, the first preferred embodiment of a backframe module 2 according to the present invention includes a base plate21, two locking plate members 22, and a stowage plate 23. In the firstpreferred embodiment, the back frame module 2 allows a computer device200 to be positioned on a rear face (201 a) of a display 201. Inaddition, the rear face (201 a) of the display 201 is provided with VESAmounting holes 202. The computer device 200 referred to herein is a miniPC.

The base plate 21 is a generally rectangular plate, and has a front face211, a rear face 212, a set of VESA 75 mounting holes 213, and a set ofVESA 100 mounting holes 214. The VESA 100 mounting holes 214 are used tocorrespond to the VESA mounting holes 202 in the rear face (201 a) ofthe display 201, so that the base plate 21 can be locked to the rearface (201 a) of the display 201. The base plate 21 has upper, lower,left, and right edges that are respectively formed with locking tabs215.

Each of the locking plate members 22 includes first and second lockingplates 221, 222 that are connected in a generally perpendicularrelationship. Each of the first and second locking plates 221, 222 isprovided with a plurality of mounting holes. By locking the secondlocking plates 222 of the two locking plate members 22 to the base plate21, the first locking plates 221 can be connected to the rear face 212of the base plate 21.

The stowage plate 23 includes a first plate portion 232 that has a bentand generally U-shaped structure and that defines a stowage groove 231,and an extension plate portion 233. The first plate portion 232 has twospaced-apart plate sections (232 a, 232 b). The stowage plate 23 isconnected to the base plate 21 by securing the plate section (232 a) tothe base plate 21 such that the plate section (232 b) of the first plateportion 232 is spaced apart from the rear face 212 of the base plate 21.The extension plate portion 233 extends rearwardly from the platesection (232 b) of the first plate portion 232 which is spaced apartfrom the rear face 212 of the base plate 21. The extension plate portion233 has two ends that are respectively indented to form generallyU-shaped cable organizing slots (233 a), respectively, the function ofwhich will be described hereinbelow.

The two locking plate members 22 and the stowage plate 23 are assembledto the base plate 21 by first locking the two locking plate members 22respectively to the locking tabs 215 at the left and right edges of thebase plate 21 such that the first locking plates 221 of the two lockingplate members 22 are spaced apart from each other on the rear face 212of the base plate 21, thereby permitting the computer device 200 to belocked between the two first locking plates 221 and to be secured to therear face (201 a) of the display 201. The stowage plate 23 is locked tothe locking tab 215 at the lower edge of the base plate 21 so as to bepositioned below the two locking plate members 22 with an opening of thestowage groove 231 facing upwardly. The stowage groove 231 is adaptedfor accommodating, for example, an adapter (not shown) of the display201, or accessories (not shown) of the computer device 200. A cable ofthe display 201 or of the computer device 200 may be wound around thecable organizing slots (233 a) in the extension plate portion 233, sothat the cables of the display 201 and the computer device 200 will notget entangled and form a messy sight that adversely affects the overallappearance.

A plurality of pairs of mounting holes may be provided in the secondlocking plates 222 of the two locking plate members 22 or the lockingtabs 215 at the left and right edges of the base plate 21 (the mountingholes are formed in the second locking plates 222 of the two lockingplate members 22 in this embodiment), so that the distance or widthbetween the first locking plates 221 of the two locking plate members 22disposed to be locked to the base plate 21 can be adjusted as thesituation dictates to permit mounting of the computer device 200 of adifferent size.

Referring to FIG. 6, in the first preferred embodiment, the back framemodule 1 may further include a cable organizing plate 24 formed with aplurality of cable organizing grooves 241. Specifically, the cableorganizing plate 24 has a first plate portion 240 and a plurality ofstop elements 242. Each of the stop elements 242 is generally L-shaped,and has one end connected to the first plate portion 240, and anotherend spaced apart from the first plate portion 240 so as to define arespective one of the cable organizing grooves 241 with the first plateportion 240. In this embodiment, some of the stop elements 242 areconnected to upper or lower edges of the first plate portion 240 so asto define the respective ones of the cable organizing grooves 241 withthe upper or lower edges of the first plate portion 240. Other ones ofthe stop elements 242 are connected to a plate surface of the firstplate portion 240 so as to define the respective ones of the cableorganizing grooves 241 with the plate surface of the first plate portion240.

Referring to FIGS. 3, 6 and 7, with the additional provision of thecable organizing plate 24 in the back frame module 2, the base plate 21,aside from being usable in conjunction with the two locking platemembers 22 and the stowage plate 23 as shown in FIG. 3, may be used inconjunction with the cable organizing plate 24 and the stowage plate 23,as shown in FIG. 7, in which the cable organizing plate 24 is locked toone of the locking tabs 215 at the left and right edges of the baseplate 21 so that the cable of the display 201 may be wound around thecorresponding ones of the stop elements 242 defining the cableorganizing grooves 241. As for the stowage plate 23, it is locked to thelocking tab 215 at the lower edge of the base plate 21 in the samemanner as described in connection with FIG. 3, for accommodating, forexample, an adapter (not shown) of the display 201.

Alternatively, referring to FIGS. 3 and 6, when the two locking platemembers 22 and the stowage plate 23 are locked to the base plate 21, thecable organizing plate 24 can be locked to the locking tab 215 at theupper edge of the base plate 21, so that the back frame module 2 has thefunctions of securing the computer device 200, organizing cables andstowing articles. Alternatively, the two locking plate members 22, thecable organizing plate 24, and the stowage plate 23 may be separatelylocked to the base plate 21, so that the back frame module 2 has thefunction of securing the computer device 200, organizing cables, orstowing, for example, an adapter of the display 201.

Referring to FIGS. 8 to 10, the second preferred embodiment of a backframe module 2′ according to the present invention further comprises asupport plate 25 in addition to the base plate 21, the stowage plate 23,and the cable organizing plate 24, but excluding the two locking platemembers 22 of the first preferred embodiment. In this embodiment, thebase plate 21, the cable organizing plate 24, and the stowage plate 23are of the same structure and are assembled in the same way as those inthe first preferred embodiment, and will not be described in greaterdetail herein for the sake of brevity.

The support plate 25 includes a first plate portion 251, and a secondplate portion 252 and two first locking plates 253 connected to thefirst plate portion 251. The first plate portion 251 as a whole iselongated in shape. The second plate portion 252 extends forwardly froma top edge of the first plate portion 251, and is generally L-shaped.The two first locking plates 253 extend transversely and rearwardly fromthe first plate portion 251, and are spaced apart with one on top of theother. In practice, the two first locking plates 253 are formed bycutting portions of the first plate portion 251 and by bending the cutportions rearwardly. Therefore, the two first locking plates 253 and thefirst plate portion 251 are connected integrally. Certainly, in otherembodiments of this invention, the two locking plates 253 may be formedas separate components like the locking plate members 22 of the firstpreferred embodiment for locking or connecting to the support plate 25,and may be configured to have mounting holes like the locking platemembers 22 of the first preferred embodiment so as to be adjustable inposition and to be locked to the first plate portion 251 of the supportplate 25 for accommodating the computer device 200 of a different size.

When the base plate 21 is locked to the rear face (201 a) of the display201, the support plate 25 can be locked to the base plate 21 through thesecond plate portion 252 such that the first plate portion 251 of thesupport plate 25 is spaced apart from the rear face 212 of the baseplate 21. The computer device 200 can then be locked between the twofirst locking plates 253.

It is apparent from the foregoing that the second preferred embodimentdiffers from the first preferred embodiment in the structure formounting the computer device 200. However, the back frame module 2′ as awhole can likewise achieve the same effects as the back frame module 2according to the first preferred embodiment.

It is further noted that if the back frame module 2′ is adapted to bemounted to a desk-top display 201, the base plate 21 is locked directlyto the rear face (201 a) of the display 201 via the VESA mounting holes202.

Referring to FIGS. 11 to 13, if the back frame module 2′ according tothe second preferred embodiment is adapted for use with a suspendingtype display 201′, since the display 201′ is suspended through asuspending frame 26, the base plate 21 is locked between the rear face(201 a′) of the display 201′ and the suspending frame 26, in which thebase plate 21 and the display 201′ are connected via the VESA 100mounting holes 214, 202 respectively provided therein, and the baseplate 21 and the suspending frame 26 are connected via the VESA 75mounting holes 213, 261 respectively provided therein. Thus, both thecomputer device 200 and the suspending frame 26 can be connected to therear face (201 a′) of the display 201′ at the same time. In other words,in this embodiment, the base plate 21 is locked to the display 201′ andthe suspending frame 26, respectively, through the two sets of VESAmounting holes 213, 214 therein. In practice, if the base plate 21 isprovided with only one set of VESA mounting holes, the suspending frame26 and the base plate 21 are both locked to the display 201′. It isnoted that, in this embodiment, the second plate portion 252 of thesupport plate 25 is provided with an opening 254 for passage of thesuspending frame 26 therethrough.

Referring to FIG. 14, the third preferred embodiment of a back framemodule 2″ according to the present invention is shown to include theaforesaid base plate 21 and a support plate 25′.

Since the base plate 21 is substantially the same as that of the secondpreferred embodiment in terms of structure and manner of assembly, itwill not be discussed further herein.

The support plate 25′ includes a first plate portion 251′, and a secondplate portion 252′, two first locking plates 253′, a cable organizingplate portion 254′, a first partition 255′, and a second partition 256′connected to the first plate portion 251′. The first plate portion 251′,the second plate portion 252′, and the two first locking plates 253′ aresubstantially the same as those of the support plate 25 of the secondpreferred embodiment in structure. The cable organizing plate portion254′ is connected integrally to a lateral edge of the first plateportion 251′, and is indented to form a plurality of cable organizingslots 250′ that are inter-communicated. The first partition 255′ and thesecond partition 256′ extend transversely and rearwardly from the firstplate portion 251′, are spaced apart from each other with one on top ofthe other, and are located below the two first locking plates 253′. Thefirst partition 255′ and the second partition 256′ define a stowagegroove 257′ therebetween. Left and right lateral edges of the secondpartition 256′ are respectively indented to form U-shaped cableorganizing slots 258′, respectively.

The support plate 25′ is assembled in the same manner as that describedin the second preferred embodiment. The two first locking plates 253′are adapted for mounting the computer device 200 therebetween. The cableorganizing slots 250′ in the cable organizing plate portion 254′ areadapted for stowing a cable of the computer device 200 or of the display201′. The stowage groove 257′ between the first partition 255′ and thesecond partition 256′ is adapted for stowing an adapter (not shown) ofthe display 201′ or accessories (not shown) of the computer device 200.

In this embodiment, the functions of securing the computer device 200,organizing cables, and stowing an adapter (not shown) of the display201′ are those of the support plate 25′. However, in other embodimentsof this invention, the aforesaid functional structures of the supportplate 25′ may have different combinations and may be configured toprovide such functions in conjunction with other components of the firstpreferred embodiment of the back frame module 2 depending on userrequirements.

In the three preferred embodiments described hereinabove, connection ofthe components (such as the locking plate members 22, the support plate25, 25′, the cable organizing plate 24, and the stowage plate 23) of theback frame module 2, 2′, 2″ to the base plate 21 is realized using screwfasteners (not shown), and may be accomplished using conventional meansof releasable engagement in other embodiments of the invention.

As illustrated, by virtue of the configuration of the modularizedcomponents of the back frame module 2, 2′, 2″, the two first lockingplates 221, 253 permit adjustment of the distance therebetween so as toaccommodate computer devices 200 of different sizes. In addition, sincethe components of the back frame module 2, 2′, 2″ may be assembledselectively depending on user requirements to provide differentfunctional combinations, the back frame module 2, 2′, 2″ does not merelyhave the function of securing the computer device 200, and can providethe user with a wider range of functionalities in use, so that the userdoes not need to buy additional accessories. Furthermore, with thearrangement of the back frame module 2, 2′, 2″ to allow the user tosecure the computer device 200 to the rear face (201 a, 201 a′) of thedisplay 201, 201′, not only can the space occupied by the computerdevice 200 be reduced, the display 201, 201′ can also be mounted to thesuspending frame 26 so as to be capable of being suspended. Moreover,such can be achieved with the use of only the set of VESA mounting holes202 in the rear face (201 a′, 201 a′) of the display 201, 201′, therebyenhancing user convenience.

While the present invention has been described in connection with whatare considered the most practical and preferred embodiments, it isunderstood that this invention is not limited to the disclosedembodiments but is intended to cover various arrangements includedwithin the spirit and scope of the broadest interpretation so as toencompass all such modifications and equivalent arrangements.

What is claimed is:
 1. A back frame module, comprising: a base plate; asupport plate having a first plate portion and a second plate portionextending forwardly from said first plate portion, said second plateportion being locked to said base plate; and two first locking platesprovided on said first plate portion and spaced apart from each otherfor mounting of a computer device between said first locking plates;wherein said first locking plates extend rearwardly from said firstplate portion and are connected integrally to said first plate portion,wherein said support plate further has a cable organizing plate portionconnected to said first plate portion, said cable organizing plateportion being indented to form a plurality of cable organizing slots;and said support plate further has a first partition and a secondpartition that extend rearwardly from said first plate portion and thatare spaced apart with one on top of the other, said first and secondpartitions defining a stowage groove therebetween.
 2. The back framemodule according to claim 1, wherein said second partition has twolateral edges that are respectively indented to form cable organizingslots, respectively.